Release device for fluids under pressure



NOV. 11, 1930. D, MAPES, 1,781,027

RELEASE DEVICE FOR FLUIDS UNDER PRESSUHE Filed Oct. 29, 1928 pmllllllllllll lPatented Nev. 11, 1930 cape of iuids co PATENT oFFlcE mmm-mns, or NECK,

rm, me., or NEW YoEx,

NEW Yoan, AssIeNoE 'ro WALTER mDE a com N. Y., va conroaA-rron or NEW Yom: l

RELEASE DEVICE FOB FLUIDS 'UNDER PBJESSITBJE Application mea october 29, 1928i serial no. 315,048. y

frangible disc c is seated. A suitable sealin The present invention is embodied in an improved'releasin device to permit the esed in a container under pressure and is particularly adapted for use in fire extinguishing systems wherein the fire extinguishing medium is maintained under pressure in suitable containers. More specifically, the invention is embodied in a releasing device f this character which is adapted to be operated manually, the improved construction greatly facilitating tion and effecting a more positive actuation of the releasing mechanism.

Where a considerable quantity of a fire extinguishing medium is maintained under ahigh pressure within a container, the frangible disc necessary to vconfine the medium is frequently of such character that the rupturing thereof manually is attended with considerable diculty. Accordingly, the present invention has for an object the provision of a manual means for rupturing such frangtiple disc and releasing the confined fluid, w 'ch will require comparatively little effort for the operation thereof, at the same time permitting the free and unobstructed flow of the medium from the container after the frangible disc has `been ruptured.

Further objects of the invention will be apL parent as the description proceeds and reference will now be hadtothe accompanying f drawings wherein the single ligure 1s a v1ew in section, taken on avertical plane passing through the axis of the releasing mechanism and the container.

Referring to the above drawing, a designates a container for a fire extinguishing medium which is to be maintained under a considerable pressure therein. Threaded into the neck a of the container is a disc body b to which a siphon tube a2 is secured. This Siphon tube extends adjacent the bottom of the container and communicates with an axial passage b within the disc body to permit the discharge of the confined medium when conditions are suitable therefor. A filler check valve b2 may be carried by the disc body, the specific construction thereof not being essential to the present invention. The disc body b is formed with a disc seat bs upon which a.

the manual operagasket c. may be provided and the gasket an disc are held securely against the seat' by means of a coupling d wh1ch isfthreadedinto the upper end of the disc body. This coupling, in turn, is which frangible are received. A valve into the upper end of the coupling d to press the disc e and gasket e toward the seat d.

Coupling d is formed with an axial passage d2 having a restricted portion d* within which a plunger g is received. An enlarged head is formed on the plunger and is received within an enlarged portion d8 of the coup d. The plunger is of such length that it wi discs when the latterA sage h3 and radial passages h". The passage h8 is coaxial with respect to the passage g2. A discharge aperture f2 vmay be threaded to receive a discharge pipe for conducting the medium to a desired location.

The length of the plunger g is such that it will support the frangible disc c against the pressure of the medium within the container, the plunger in turn being supported vby the frangible disc e which servesas a reinforcing means. In this manner, the frangible disc c may be of considerably thinner material than ordinarily required. When the striking head h is struck with the hand, plunger g is forced downwardly to rupture the frangible disc c. There is sufficient flexibility in the frangible disc'e to permit the required advance of the 'pusher' head hf and plunger g to drive Ythe lower end of the plunger g through the frangible d isc c. The pressure of the re extinguishing medium is then exerted against the under side ofthe frangible 55 formed with a seat d upon disc e and sealing .gasket ebonnet f is threaded disc e, shearing it off against the circumferenceof the internal bore of the bonnet f. The pusher head 71.2 recedes until it engages the upper extremity of the internal bore of the bonnet, permitting the plunger g to rise above the restricted portion which is formed at the lower end of the coupling d. This provides a path for the flow of the fire-extinguishing medium around the outside of the plunger g and through orts gf.V Although the cut-out portion of the frangible disc e is still resting against thev under side of the pusher head h2, the force of the fire extingulshing medium will be sulicient to push back the edge of the frangible disc e,

permitting the medium to discharge through the outlet f2.

If the pressure within the container should become excessive at a time when the lire extinguishing system is not in operation, the frangible disc c willy burst and permit the medium to pass through the passage g2 and rupture the frangible disc e, the medium being discharged' through the passages h3 and- L* into the chamber f.

It will be apparent that the reduction 1n the sizeof the frangible disc c will permit,

the piercing thereof to be accomplished with comparatively little manual force. The discharge of the medium is free and unobstructed and the structure is such that it may be operated positively and effectively.

While the embodiment of the present inv vention herein described has been pointed out as particularly applicable to direct manual operation, it will be understood that the device may be operated by any force. as by a spring, a weight, or any other means released manually' or automatically, and that the resent invention is not limited except as delined in the following claims. I claim as my invention: l. A releasingmechanism of the character described comprising a container for a fluid under pressure, avfrangible disc carried by the container, a reinforcing means, pressure transmittingmeans between the reinforcing means and the disc, and means to exert a pressure on the transmitting means to rupture the disc against the pressure in the container.

2. -A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container, a frangible disc carried by the container, a reinforcing means, pressure transmitting means between the reinforcing means and the disc, and means to exert a pressure on the transmitting means through the reinforcing meansl to rupture the disc.

3. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container for a fluid under pressure, a frangible disc carried by the container, a second disc, pressure transmitting means between the discs, and means to exert a pressure on the first disc through the transmitting means to rupture said rst disc against the pressure in the container.

4.. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container for a fluid second disc over the plunger torupture the first disc against the pressure in the container.

6. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprisinga Container, a frangible disc carried by the container, a second frangible disc, a plunger between the discs and spacing the'two, a passage in the plunger communicating with the first disc, and means to exert a pressure on the second disc over the plunger. Y

7. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container, a frangible disc carried by the container, a second frangible disc, a plunger between the discs and spacing the two, a passage through the plunger communicating with eachdisc, and means to exert a pressure on the second disc over the plunger. f

8. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container for a uid under pressure, a frangible disc carried by the container, a coupling carried by the container, an axial passage in the coupling, a second frangible disc carried by the coupling, a plunger in the passage and spacing the two discs, and means to exert a pressure on the second disc over the plunger to rupture the rst disc against the pressure in the container.

9. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container fora fluid under pressure, a frangible disc carried by the container, a coupling carried by the container, a second frangible disc carried by the coupling, an axial passage in the coupling between the discs, a plunger in the passage spacing the discs, and means to exert a pressure on the second disc over the plunger to rupture the first disc against the pressure in larged portion on the plunger engaging the walls of the enlarged portion of the passage,

passages in -the enlarged portion of the plunger, an axial passage in the plunger between the discs, and means to exert a pressure on the second disc over the plunger.

'12. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container, a frangible disc carried by the container, a coupling carried by the container, a second frangible disc carried by the coupling, a bonnet over the second disc securing the latter in the coupling, a plunger carried by the bonnet and engaging the second disc, an axial passage in the coupling between the discs having an enlarged portion, a second plunger in the passage of less diameter than the passage, an enlarged portion on the second plunger engaging the walls of the enlarged portion of the passage, passages in the enlarged portion of the second plunger, and an axial'passage in the second plunger between the discs.

13. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container, a frangible disc carried by the container, a coupling carried by the container, a second frangible disc carried by the coupling, a bonnet over the second disc securing the latter in the coupling, a plunger carried by the bonnet coaxial thereto and engaging the second disc, an axial passage in the plunger communicating ywith an outlet, an axial passage in the coupling between the discs having an enlarged portioil, a second plunger in the passage of les/s di ameter than the passage, an enlargled portion on the second plunger engaging t e walls of 'the enlarged portion of the passage, passages in the enlarged portion of the second plunger, andan axial passage inthe second plunger between the discs.

14. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container, a frangible disc carried by the container, a coupling carried by the container, a second frangible disc carried by the coupling, a bonnetover the second disc securing the latter in the coupling, a chamber in thebonnet, an outlet for the chamber, a plunger carried by the bonnet and engaging the second disc, said plunger being coaxial with respect to the bonnet, an axial passage in the plunger, passages in the-plunger between the axial passage therein and thechamber, an axial passage'- in the coup between thediscs having an "enlarged portion, a second plunger Iinthe passage of less diameter thanthe passage, an enlarged portion on the second plunger engaging the walls of the enlar ed portlon of the passage, (passages in the e arged portion of the secon plunger, and an axial passage in the second plunger between the discs.

15. A releasing mechanism of the character described comprising a container, a frangible disc carried by the container, a coupling carried by the container, a second frangible disc carried by the coupling, a bonnet over the second disc securing the latter in the coupling, a chamber in the bonnet, an outlet for the chamber, a plunger carried by the bonnet and engaging thel second disc, said plunger being coaxial with respect to the bonnet, an axial passage in the plunger, passages in the plunger between the axial passage therein and the chamber, an axial passage in the coupling between the discs having an enlarged portion, a second plunger in the passage of` less diameter than the passage, an enlarged portion on the second plunger engaging the walls of the enlarged portion of the passage, passages in the enlarged portion of the sec-l ond plunger, an axial passage inthe second plunger between the discs, and means to exert a force on the first plunger.

This specification signed this 11th day of j October, A. D. 1928.

' DANIEL MAPES. 

